Oh When Oh When

  • Thread starter Ron Troversial Clay
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Ron Troversial Clay

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It's maybe because of my age, but this winter is getting me down.

Just to go outside is a terrible trial.

Our daffodils nearly came out the other days, but have gone back into hibernation with this latest cold spell. This morning I suffered severe chilblains trying to get that awful white stuff off my car.

I yearn for the mild breezes of spring. The days when the trout start rising on our local reservoir, The lovely warm rain (I never mind the rain), the first buds on the trees, the green grass shooting, that great feeling of renewal, the evenings when I can go out and get a couple of fresh trout after work.

And for a field of golden daffodils; and catkins in the trees; and the unfurling of the bracken in the woods.

Oh how marvellous is springtime, but how far it seems away.

Are you feeling like me?
 
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jason fisher

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you can always tell when spring's here the warm rain stops and it starts snowing.
 
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Ron Troversial Clay

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Mind you if we get a cold spring, the tench will be heavier come June 16th...:eek:)

And I don't dare fish for them before the 16th, wouldn't be cricket, would it?
 
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jason fisher

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if you've read that thread on baileys they always start spawning on the 16th in there.
an i don't care if it is cricket i'm fishin for em come the start of the river closed season.
 
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Ron Troversial Clay

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How dare you Jason.

Where's your sense of tradition?
 
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Rod MacAskill

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Conditions can be frustrating at this time of year. A couple of weeks ago with some very mild spring conditions in the air I decided to go piking and headed for the shallows of a large lake. Fishing in the shallows(2foot) I managed just one female of 18lb and considered returning there this weekend. However with the sudden cold snap I am not sure whether the pike will remain in spawning mood in the shallows or temporarily move back to deeper water.As a result of my uncertainty I have decided the best option is to chase grayling instead. At least with the unpredictability of the great British weather the allround angler has always got a new challenge.
 
Tim Ridge

Tim Ridge

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If I listened to you Ron, I'd wouldn't get to go fishing at all. To cold, too early etc.
No doubt in June it will be unethical because they are carrying spawn and in July they will be recovering. In August it'll be too hot and in september it'll be a waste of time cos they'll be preoccupied with naturals. In october they'll bury their heads in the mud and we won't see them again until the following May when it's not cricket!
 
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Ron Troversial Clay

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Like it Rod.

The all rounder is the happiest angler.

Might go up to the Wharfe this weekend and get a couple of "ladies".
 
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Ron Troversial Clay

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I'm just a traditionalist old fart Tim.

Take no notice.
 
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jason fisher

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tench season for me starts when the rivers close till they start spawning then has a short period in late july and august, the lake i fish hasn't had a tench angler on it since august they've had plenty of rest.
 
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Rod MacAskill

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Cracking barbel,Tim Well done! I am not sure, however, about your comments regarding the Trent fish not reaching the proportions of the Great Ouse monsters. There aren't that many people targetting the Trent these days,mainly a bunch of fairly well known specialists. I live in hope that the Trent will eventually do the record. Besides didn't the original stock of barbel in the Great Ouse come from the Trent? (not that that particularly means anything)
 
Tim Ridge

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Thanks Rod
I thought the original stock of Great Ouse barbel came from the kennet. You might be right though as this is just a vague recollection.

Would love to think it might happen Rod.
Thing is with interviews over the phone you have to respond quickly. Also they misquoted me slightly a couple of times. What I meant was I can't see it in the very short term. No reliable reports of fish aproaching that sort of weight. Yet....

In the long term, It would seem that this fish was not one and the same as the other 15 so they are obviousely still putting on weight. Also an awefull lot of the river is ignored and as you know as well as anyone, such stretches can harbour surprises. I intend to fish a few of these stretches next season. Have a half baked theory where there could be one or two big fish on the basis of information gained from a barge driver.
You're welcome to join me mate, any time you wish.
 
Peter Jacobs

Peter Jacobs

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Well Ron, here in Southern Holland it snowed all day yesterday on and off, mostly on!

I had to do some shopping after work and ended up looking like a snowman. What was worse was that I took off my gloves in a department store and some scumbag stole them.

And, fishing for Tench before the 16th. is definitely not cricket, nor anything else during the close season, IMHO.
 
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The Dog

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Cheer up lads in four weeks time clocks will go forward and it won't be dark till well after 7 :eek:)

I used to be a traditionalist but in truth the best tench fishing is in May and the first half of June before the fish spawn. During this period they are in superb condition due to the amount of food available and they fight better than at any other time. Once they start spawning I would rather leave them to get on with it. Tench are multiple spawners and have been recorded spawning up to 9 times in a single year.

The closed season was brought in in a different age when fish were taken for the pot and when game anglers ruked the roost and wanted to keep course anglers off the bank at the start of their season. If it had anything to contribute to fish welfare then i would be for it but the truth is it did not. Indeed for Tench it always achieved the opposite concentrating Tench angling into just the time when the fish were spawning.
 
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Rod MacAskill

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Tim - will take you up on that offer. Email me next season when you fancy some company on one of those long desolate tidal stretches
 
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jason fisher

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exactly my sentiments andy.
If i catch a species that looks like it's due a spawning i leave em alone for a few weeks.
afterall why reduce the fish food supply at just the point where they are trying to put weight on and get ready for coming into spawning condition after winter.
 
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